Last year, over 36 tons of kratom were imported to Sweden – now the Kratom plant is classified as a narcotic.

Kratom , a plant from Southeast Asia, can produce stimulating and euphoric effects in low doses, while higher doses can have opioid-like effects. The active substance in the leaves, mitragynine, was classified as a narcotic in 2011. Despite this, the import and handling of the plant itself has been legal until now. Over the past five years, the import of kratom into Sweden has increased significantly.

In 2019, just under 3 tons were imported, but last year the figure rose to more than twelve times that amount. Customs noted a peak in 2023 when over 40 tons were brought into the country. Kratom is sold in powder form both via online stores and in kiosks that also offer synthetic cannabis, a substance that is not yet covered by legislation. The products are often marketed with detailed descriptions of their effects, but are officially stated to be intended for soap making. When imported, kratom has in almost all cases been declared as a raw material for perfumes.

An increased use of kratom in Sweden is also visible in the calls to the Swedish Poison Information Centre. Five years ago, six calls were received about the subject – in 2023, the number was 57, of which 23 concerned people who needed hospital care. There are also suspicions that kratom may have contributed to deaths. According to Sara Gustavsson at the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine, mitragynine was detected in 70 forensic autopsies over the past decade. In just under half of the cases, the substance was considered to have played a role in the death, and in 44 percent it was assessed to be the direct cause of death.

From March 11, 2025, anyone who imports kratom will be committing a smuggling or drug offense. Until then, authorities such as Customs can use the Destruction Act to handle the importation of the plant.